Can you tell us what you did to update this design? Also, could you place the two pages of the spread together so that we can see better who they look together? This would be a big help.
Chris - This is coming along, and the body copy is much improved from what I remember seeing earlier.
1. Cover type: "Creative Accessories" is getting lost in the image. Needs more contrast. I suggest you use the hot pink/red for these words and/or add more opacity to the text frame... this is important to the cover - must be clearly readable and emphasized.
2. The last 2 pages both have weak heading type. Hmmm... as I read the pages, it appears that they are, in fact, part of the same article... Creative Accessories.... and yet their design tells us they are separate and equal... because their headings are of the same size and style.
Visual Hierarchy is all about understanding the "hierarchy" of the content and helping us readers understand it at a glance. This means that the heading on the left page must serve both pages - and we need to understand the right page contains a section that actually would sit "under" the left if the format allowed us to do that (which, or course, it doesn't).
Currently, the headings tell us just the opposite. I suggest you redesign the left page's heading to really fill the top of the page, and allow the blue background behind it to continue onto the right page. Then redesign "Creating a Bow" to sit lower on the page and above the body text.
I can imagine that there are more pages in this article that offer tips about creative Woven Design... and they would follow the approach you establish on this right page.
3. Never use underline for emphasis... it makes the headline hard to read, especially if you have used the default settings for the InDesign underline. I see 3 subheadings on your last page that use awkward underlines. What else can you do? Not sure you need anything other than the colored text.
4. Lastly - the word "Woven" at top of the Table of Contents is lower than the word Design. It seems to diminish it's importance to the logo. Have you considered enlarging the "W" so it reaches up to the same ascender height as the D in Design? If you think this is successful - return to the cover and even though the 2 words of the title sits on the same baseline, enlarge that W to slightly bleed off the top of the page... try it and see what you think.
The bright colors of this project will be a good asset to your portfolio.
Another thought: speaking of colors. There seems to be an over abundance of red bows on the right hand page. Maybe you ought to shift some of the colors a bit to make them appear more different. Do you know how to do this in photoshop? It's really easy.
Looks like you've put a good amount of time into this rework. I see lots of changes. I also would like to see the spread pages side by side. keep working at you'll get there.
Looks like you've put a good amount of time into this rework. I see lots of changes. I also would like to see the spread pages side by side. keep working at you'll get there.
Can you tell us what you did to update this design? Also, could you place the two pages of the spread together so that we can see better who they look together? This would be a big help.
ReplyDeleteChris - This is coming along, and the body copy is much improved from what I remember seeing earlier.
ReplyDelete1. Cover type: "Creative Accessories" is getting lost in the image. Needs more contrast. I suggest you use the hot pink/red for these words and/or add more opacity to the text frame... this is important to the cover - must be clearly readable and emphasized.
2. The last 2 pages both have weak heading type. Hmmm... as I read the pages, it appears that they are, in fact, part of the same article... Creative Accessories.... and yet their design tells us they are separate and equal... because their headings are of the same size and style.
Visual Hierarchy is all about understanding the "hierarchy" of the content and helping us readers understand it at a glance. This means that the heading on the left page must serve both pages - and we need to understand the right page contains a section that actually would sit "under" the left if the format allowed us to do that (which, or course, it doesn't).
Currently, the headings tell us just the opposite. I suggest you redesign the left page's heading to really fill the top of the page, and allow the blue background behind it to continue onto the right page. Then redesign "Creating a Bow" to sit lower on the page and above the body text.
I can imagine that there are more pages in this article that offer tips about creative Woven Design... and they would follow the approach you establish on this right page.
3. Never use underline for emphasis... it makes the headline hard to read, especially if you have used the default settings for the InDesign underline. I see 3 subheadings on your last page that use awkward underlines. What else can you do? Not sure you need anything other than the colored text.
4. Lastly - the word "Woven" at top of the Table of Contents is lower than the word Design. It seems to diminish it's importance to the logo. Have you considered enlarging the "W" so it reaches up to the same ascender height as the D in Design? If you think this is successful - return to the cover and even though the 2 words of the title sits on the same baseline, enlarge that W to slightly bleed off the top of the page... try it and see what you think.
The bright colors of this project will be a good asset to your portfolio.
Another thought: speaking of colors. There seems to be an over abundance of red bows on the right hand page. Maybe you ought to shift some of the colors a bit to make them appear more different. Do you know how to do this in photoshop? It's really easy.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you've put a good amount of time into this rework. I see lots of changes. I also would like to see the spread pages side by side. keep working at you'll get there.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you've put a good amount of time into this rework. I see lots of changes. I also would like to see the spread pages side by side. keep working at you'll get there.
ReplyDeleteWow Chris what an improvement since you first started reworking this for Portfolio Prep!!!! I can't believe this is the same piece! Nice job!
ReplyDelete